Apparatus for producing cartons

ABSTRACT

Apparatus comprising a side seaming device adapted to fold a prescored carton blank along two score lines and to provide an adhesively secured side seam to form a flat tube. The apparatus also includes a carton blank feeding device preceding the side seaming device for feeding blanks to the latter and a device following the side seaming device for reverse folding the flat tube along the remaining two score lines.

United States Patent 1 1 Scully June 19, 1973 [54] APPARATUS FORPRODUCING CARTONS 2,710,752 6/1955 Fergnani 271/35 3,270,628 9/1966 Clem271 32 [751 Invent Scully RaWham Mass- 3,612,511 10/1971 Godlewski 27135[73] Assignee: Pneumatic Scale Corporation,

Qumcy Mass Primary Examiner-Harvey C. Hornsby [22] Filed: July 12, 1971Attorney-Robert T. Gammons 211 App]. No.1 161,613

Related US. Application Data [57] ABSTRACT [62] Division of Ser. No.813,172, April 3, 19 69,

abandoned- Apparatus comprising a side seaming device adapted to fold aprescored carton blank along two score lines and [52] US. Cl. 271/35,271/41 to provide an adhesive), Secured Side Seam to form a [51'] '1" ClB65h 1/66 B65h 3/06 flat tube. The apparatus also includes a cartonblank [58] Fleltl of Search 271/32, 35, 39, 12, feeding device precedingthe d seaming device for 271/41 feeding blanks to the latter and adevice following the 1 side seaming device for reverse folding the flattube [56] References cued along the remaining two score lines.

' UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,792,878 2/1931 Wagner 271/35 4 Claims, 24Drawing Figures 26 5 ,6 so 4 IO 22 B 174 2 4 228 2 14s \1 I76 ,IG4IGZ!32 16 1 I '32 2 1, 1 I 222 21 294 o /3 334 o 40 "1 2 l66' 112 ,1115 5 2'8 H, 274 0 9g 58 52 I: 295

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mmm 0mm INVENTOR J. W Scu//y fwcmm ATTORNEY Apparatus For ProducingCartons. 7

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the packaging art andcontemplates novel apparatus for feeding, folding, side seaming andreverse bending flat tubular cartons, known in the art as knockdowncartons, prepared from prescored carton blanks. The feeding mechanism isarranged to withdraw successive lowermost carton blanks from a stackthereof and to present successive blanks to a continuously movingconveyor where the blanks are first provided with a strip of adhesivealong a seam forming portion. The prescored panels on either side of theblank are then folded inwardly to join the marginal edges and to form atube provided with a side seam. The side seam is then pressed to firmlyset the adhesive.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention provision is made fortransferring successive flat tubular cartons from the tube formingconveyor to a reverse folding or bending device arranged to open theflat folded cartons and to refold the same 180 in the opposite directionalong the score lines which were previously unfolded. In operation, thecartons thus reverse folded are transferred directly to a bottom sealingmachine, not shown, where each carton is squared up and applied to amandrel or forming block whereupon the bottom flaps are folded andadhesively secured to provide a bottom closure. Alternatively, the flattubular cartons may be stacked and stored for future use.

Prior to the present invention it has been the practice for those in thepackaging trade to purchase the flat tubular cartons from a cartonmanufacturer, and in practice, such cartons are transferred from amagazine into the pocket of a bottom sealing machine where the carton issquared up and applied to a forming block to be bottom sealed. Onetransfer mechanism widely used in the packaging industry comprises areciprocating bladelike device which is inserted within a flat knockdowncarton in a magazine and then moved-to open the carton and to presentthe same between rollers which deliver the carton to the squaring pocketof the bottom sealing machine. The prior art apparatus for feeding theside seamed cartons to a bottom sealing machine is exemplified generallyinthe U.S. Pat. issued to S. R. Howard, No. 1,916,425, July 4, 1933.While such prior devices have operated successfully over a long periodof time, it was found that in practice if the cartons supplied by themanufacturer were not of uniform shape and size, or were slightlydisplaced in the magazine, there would be times where the bladelikedevice would fail to transfer a carton to the bottom sealer. Theexpedient of side seaming the cartons, reverse bending the same andfeeding them directly into the bottom sealing machine in accordance withthe present invention, gives the user better control of the product andalso results in a saving in that the cartons do not have to be stackedand stored for future use and then again handled when ready for use.Furthermore, the expedient of forming the side seam in the packagingplant rather than purchasing the side seamed cartons resulted in asaving in the initial cost of the cartons.

Accordingly, the present invention has for one object to provideapparatus for producing flat tubular cartons from prescored cartonblanks characterized by novel structure adapted to produce the cartonsin a rapid, efficient and economical manner.

The invention has for another object to provide novel and improvedapparatus of the character specified characterized by novel carton blankfeeding mechanism arranged to withdraw successive carton blanks from astack thereof at a rapid rate.

The invention has for a further object to provide novel and improvedapparatus of the character specified having novel provision for openingand reversely folding a flat tubular carton in a rapid and efficientmanner.

With these general objects in view and such others as may hereinafterappear, the invention consists in the apparatus for producing cartons:and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of partshereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the endof this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings illustrating thepreferred embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus for producing cartons embodyingthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIGS. 3 to 7 illustrate in perspective the different steps followed inproducing a side seamed carton from a prescored carton blank;

FIG. 8 is a perspective .view of a carton provided with a bottom seal;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the carton blank feeding device;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the parts in a differentposition of operation;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view at a larger scale of the lower end ofthe magazine showing a blank partially withdrawn;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of the carton blank feeding device asseen from the line 12-12 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the receiving end of the carton folding andside seaming conveyer;

FIG. 14 is a detail view of the carton blank transfer rolls shown in adifferent position of operation;

FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 15-15 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 16-16 of FIG. 1;v

FIG. 17 is a front elevation, partly in cross section, of the side seampressing mechanism as taken on the line 17-17 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 18 is a view in side elevation of the side seam forming mechanismand the carton opening and reverse folding mechanism disposed at thedischarge end of the side seam conveyer;

FIG. 19 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 18; and

FIGS. 20 to 24 are detail views in plan elevation showing the differentpositions of operation of the reverse folding and carton advancing ordischarge mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingsand particularly to FIG. 1, in general the present apparatus includescarton blank feeding mechanism adapted to withdraw successive lowermostcarton blanks 12 from a stack 14 thereof supported in a magazine 16. Theupright stack is arranged at an angle of about 40 from the vertical forconvenience in loading the magazine and also to reduce the height of theunit.

The carton blanks 12 are prescored and, in operation, successive blankswithdrawn from the stack are advanced longitudinally to present theleading ends thereof first between advancing rolls 18, and then betweentransfer rolls 22, 24, the latter being arranged to present the cartonsto a horizontal conveyer indicated generally at 26 wherein a marginaledge, comprising the side seam flap 27, of the blank is provided withadhesive by a glue applying roller 28 during the advance of the cartonblank. The side wall panels along the outer edges of the carton,including a narrow panel 29 on one side and a wider panel 31 on theother side, are then folded inwardly by folding rails indicatedgenerally at 30 to present the longitudinal marginal edges inoverlapping and adhesive engagement. The carton is thus folded along twoscore lines and provided with a side seam, the latter being firmlypressed to set the seal by a presser roll 32 during the continuousadvance of the blank.

In practice, the blanks thus folded and sealed to form a flat tube maybe discharged from the apparatus and stored for future use, or the sideseamed cartons may be fed directly to a magazine from which they arewithdrawn and opened by conventional means to be delivered to a bottomsealing machine. However, in the illustrated embodiment of theinvention, novel provision is made for opening the carton and effectingreverse folding thereof along the two remaining score lines whereuponthe carton is transferred directly to a bottom sealing machine. Thecarton opening, folding and transferring mechanism is indicatedgenerally at 34 in FIGS. 1 and 2, and includes a guide roll 36 and apair of advancing rolls 38, 40 which serve to press the reverse foldsand to advance the cartons to the bottom sealing machine, not shown.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10 for a more detailed description of thecarton blank feeding mechanism 10, it will be seen that successivelowermost carton blanks 12 in the stack are arranged to be withdrawn byengagement with a plurality of laterally spaced friction belts 42arranged to run over spaced idler pulleys 44 fast on a shaft 46 andspaced drive pulleys 48 fast on a shaft 50. The friction belts 42 arerun continuously and each belt comprises a rubber belt having aplurality of small upstanding resilient projections thereon.

In order to control the withdrawal of successive blanks in timedrelation to the operation of the machine, a plurality of laterallyspaced lifting rolls 52, which extend between the spaced belts.42, arearranged to alternately elevate the stack 14 to lift the lowermost blank12 away from the belts and to lower the stack to present the lowermostblank in frictional engagement with the belts to effect withdrawal of ablank. The rolls 52 are mounted on a rod 53 carried by spaced arms 54which are mounted on a shaft 56. A second arm 58 carried by the shaft 56is connected by 'a link 59 to one arm 60 ofa bell crank mounted to rockon a shaft 62. The second arm 64 of the bell crank carries a roller 66for cooperation with a cam 68 fast on a cam shaft 70.

As herein shown, a rear edge of the lower end of the stack 14 engages aroller 72 carried by an arm 74 which is adjustably mounted in themagazine 16. The roller 72 carries some of the weight of the stack andis extended slightly forwardly of the rear edge of the stack so as tocause the leading edges of the lowermost group of blanks to feather outforwardly as shown. The forward end of the stack carries a plurality ofangular guides 76 against which the feathered edges of the lowermostgroup of blanks rests. The guides 76 are vertically adjustable and arearranged to cooperate with driven rolls 78 to assist in freeing thelowermost blank from the stack. In operation, the spacing between thelower ends of the guides 76 and the periphery of the rolls 78 is aboutone and one-half times the thickness of the carton blank. When thelifting rolls 52 are rocked to their elevated position, as shown in FIG.10, the blanks are raised above the friction belts 42 and, conversely,when the stack is lowered by the rolls 52, as shown in FIG. 9, thelowermost blank is engaged by the belts and carried under the guides 76into the grip of the driven feed rolls 18, 20 spaced a short distanceforwardly of the front end of the magazine. In practice, the frictionbelts are operative to feed the forward end of the blank for a shortdistance only before the feed rolls 18, 20 take over the blank advancingoperation, the rolls being driven at a surface speed equal to the linearspeed of the belts 42. As shown in FIG. 11, the spacing between theguides 76 and the rolls 78 permits only one blank at a time to bewithdrawn from the underside of the stack. In operation, the liftingrolls 52 must be actuated to elevate the stack before the trailing endof the blank being withdrawn leaves the magazine whereby to preventrelease of a succeeding carton immediately following the first. Inoperation, the cam operated lifting rolls thus serve to control thespacing of the carton blanks in timed relation to the operation of themachine. FIG. 9 shows the lifting rolls 52 in their lowered position topermit withdrawal of the lowermost blank, and FIG. 10 shows the liftingrolls in their elevated position wherein the stack is lifted away fromthe friction belts 42.

The leading ends of successive carton blanks 12 advanced by the feedrolls 18, 20 are received between the continuously driven transfer rolls22, 24 to be delivered to the horizontal conveyer 26. As herein shown,the upper transfer rolls 22 are provided with cutouts 23 to receive theleading ends of the blanks and to ease their transition from an inclinedposition to a horizontal position on the conveyer 26.

The drives to the carton blank feeding device 10 include a chain andsprocket drive 80 from the cam shaft 70 tothe shaft 50 on which thepulleys 48 are mounted. The shaft 50 is connected by spur gears 82, 84,86 to a shaft 88 on which the rolls 78 are mounted for cooperation withthe guides 76. The shaft 50 is also connected by spur gears 90, 92 to ashaft 94 which carries the upper feed rolls 18. The shaft 94 is carriedby spring pressed lock bearings 96 slidingly mounted in the side framesand the shaft 46 on which the pulleys 44 are mounted is also carried byblock bearings 98 adjustably mounted in the frames to serve as a belttightener.

The cam shaft 70 is driven by a chain and sprocket connection 100 to ashaft 102 which latter is connected by bevel gears 104, 106 to alongitudinally extended shaft 108. The latter shaft is connected bybevel gears 110, 112 to a driven shaft 114. The shaft 114 is connectedby spur gears 116 to a shaft 118 which in turn is connected by a chainand sprocket drive 120 to a main cam shaft 122 forming a part of abottom sealing machine to which reference has been made.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the horizontal conveyer 26 includes apair of laterally spaced chains 124 provided with longitudinally spacedlugs or flights 126 arranged to engage the rear or trailing edges of ablank 12 delivered to the conveyer by the transfer rolls 22, 24. Thechains 124 are continuously driven and are arranged to run over uppersprockets 128, 130 mounted on shafts 132, 134, respectively, at each endof the conveyer; lower sprockets 136, 138 mounted on shafts 102, 114;and intermediate guide sprockets 140, 142. The sprockets 138 are fast onthe shaft 114 to effect driving of the chains 124. The shaft 132 isconnected by spur gears 144 to the shaft 146 on which the upper rolls 22are mounted. The upper rolls are supported in block bearings 148slidably mounted in the supporting frame.

In operation, the surface speed of the transfer rolls 22, 24 is fasterthan the linear speed of the chains 124 of the conveyer 26 so that acarton blank 12 deposited on the conveyer comes to rest momentarilyafter leaving the transfer rolls until the chain lugs 126 engage thetrailing end to start the blank forward to carry it through the machine.As shown in FIGS. 1 and 13, the drive to the shaft 132 on which thelower roll 24 is mounted comprises a chain and sprocket drive 145 fromthe shaft 102. It will be understood that the sprockets 128 on shaft 102over which the carrier chains 124 run comprise idlers and that the chainand sprocket drive 145 is designed to effect rotation of the shaft 132at a rate such that the carton blank 12 will be deposited on theconveyer 26 prior to arrival of the lugs 126. As herein shown, the blankis guided between side guides 150, 152 and under hold down rails 154,156. The blank is first carried past the adhesive applying roller 28where the underside of the side seam flap 27 is provided with a coatingof adhesive.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 18, the adhesive applying roller 28 isrelatively narrow and is mounted for adjustments on a shaft 158 arrangedto be rotated in timed relation to the advance of the carton by chainand sprocket connections from the shaft 114 including a connection 159to a shaft 160, a second connection 161 to a shaft 162 and a finalconnection 164 to the shaft 158. In practice, the roller 28 is rotatedat a surface speed slightly less than the linear speed of the conveyerchains 124 so that the trailing end of the carton side seam flap willnot receive a surplus of adhesive such as would occur if the applyingroller were traveling faster than the blank. The applying roller 28 isarranged to run in a glue pot 166 provided with a quick setting'hot meltadhesive. As herein shown, the glue pot is carried by parallel arms 168arranged to be lowered by a handle 170 to permit convenient cleaning andservicing of the same. One of the guide rails, 152, is provided with ashort rail 172 overlying a portion of the applying roller and underwhich the side seam flap 27 extends, the rail 172 serving to retain theflap in operative engagement with the applying roller during theadhesive applying operation.

The carton blank is then guided under shoes 174, 176 whose outer edgesare aligned with score lines 178, 180, respectively, of the carton blankand past stationary folding rails 182, 184 shaped and bent to effectinward folding of the side wall panels 29 and 31 through As hereinshown, the hold down rails 154, 156 i and the shoes 174, 176 are mountedfor lateral adjustment on rods 186 carried by arms 188. The arms 188 areclamped to a longitudinally extended rocker shaft 190 joumaled inbearing brackets 192 attached to the frame. The folding rails 182 on oneside of the conveyer 26 are likewise carried by and adjustably mountedon arms 194 clamped to the rocker shaft 190. The folding rails 184 onthe other side of the conveyer are carried by and adjustably mounted onarms 196 clamped to a rocker shaft 198. The side guides 150, 152 areadjustable on tie rods 191 extending between side rails 193. With thisconstruction it will be seen that the operating elements of the sideseaming conveyer are adjustable for different sizes of cartons withinpredetermined minimum and maximum limits. As shown in FIG. 19, the sideseamed carton passes under a guide plate on one side and under a rod 197on the other side which serve to complete the creased fold along thescore lines 178, 180.

In practice, the hold down and folding elements are spring urgeddownwardly to a predetermined and ad justable stopposition as indicatedin FIG. 16 and are capable of rocking upwardly in the event of a jam.Suitable controls, not shown, may be provided for stopping the machinewhen such a jam occurs. It will be understood that the wider side wallpanel 31 comprises the first folded panel whereby to present theadhesive coated flap 27 face up whereupon the narrower panel 29 isfolded down on top of the flap 27 to provide the side seam indicated at200. Immediately thereafter, during the continued advance of the carton,the side seam 200 is subjected to a pressing operation by drivenpressure rolls including the roll 32 previously referred to and acooperating roll 204 arranged to spread and set the adhesive.

During the pressing operation, the carton is supported on a continuouslymoving belt 206 which is coextensive with the chain conveyer 26. Thebelt 206 and the driven rolls 32and 204 are arranged to travel fasterthan the carrier chains 124 in order to pull the carton ahead of thelugs 126 during the transfer from the chains to the belt. Thus, inpractice, the pressure rolls -not only press the glue seam but alsoaccelerate the carton away from the chain lugs and into a pocket 208 ofa spider 210 forming a part of the carton opening, folding andtransferring mechanism 34. As herein shown, the belt 206 runs over adrive pulley 212 fast on a drive shaft 222 and over a driven pulley 214mounted to rotate on a stud 216 fast in a bracket .218. The drive shaft222 is rotated by a chain and sprocket drive 220 from the carrier chainsprocket shaft 134 and is designed to effect a linear speed of the belt206 at a faster rate than the linear speed of the carrier chains 124.The lower pressure roll 204 is also mounted on the pulley shaft 222. Theupper roll 32 is mounted on a shaft 224 and is connected to rotate withthe lower roll by spur gears 226. As herein shown, the upper roll shaft224 is jour- I naled in a bracket 228 pivotally mounted at 230 and isrocked in a direction to urge the roll 32 into cooperating engagementwith the lower roll 204 by a compression spring 232 coiled about a rod233 and interposed between a yoke 234 forming a part of the bracket 228and a shaft 236 journaled in spaced arms 238 extended from a bracket 240attached to the machine frame. In practice, the rod 233 may extendthrough the shaft 236 and connections to the lower end of the rod may bemade to effect manual rocking of the bracket 228 to an inoperativeposition when desired. As herein shown, the lower end of the rod 233 maybe provided with a hub 235 having a cam surface at its upper endengaging the handle 237 and rocking of the handle will efiect rocking ofthe pressure roll 32 upwardly.

In operation, it may be desired to limit the pressing operation to theside seam area 200 only as defined by the flap 27 of the carton blank12, that is, to maintain the roll 32 elevated until the closing flaparea at one end has passed and again lifting the roll before it engagesthe closing flaps at the other end of the carton so as to avoidsqueezing glue out of the ends of the seam onto the closing flaps. Thismay be accomplished by rocking the upper roll 32 into and out ofcooperating engagement with the lower roll 204 through cam operatedlinkage, not shown, connected to the rod 233. An-

other expedient employed to effect pressing along the side seam areaonly and not along the extended end closing flaps is to provide a cutoutin the lower roll 204 to avoid cooperation with the upper roll exceptduring that portion of each cycle when the side seam portion 200 passesbetween the rolls. In any event, the passage of the carton between therolls 32, 204 also serves'to advance the carton to the carton opening,reverse folding and transferring device 34.

In order to further assist in advancing the carton into a pocket 208 ofthe spider 210, a roller 242 carried by an arm 244 is arranged tocooperate with the discharge end of the belt 206 adjacent the pulley214. The arm 244 is mounted to pivot on a stud 246 and is presseddownwardly by a coil spring 248 carried between an extension 250 fromthe arm 244 and a second arm 252 clamped to the stud 246. The stud 246is adjustably mounted in an elongated slot 254 formed in a bracket 256.

As herein shown, the spider 210 comprises spaced hub members 264adjustably clamped to a shaft 258 and is provided with four equallyspaced carton receiving pockets 208 arranged to be indexed through 90each cycle of operation of the machine. Each pocket is defined by spacedelements 260 having V-shaped grooves facing toward each other. Eachgrooved element 260 is carried by a bracket 262 attached to itsrespective hub member 264. Each pair of elements 260 defining a pocket208 are spaced apart a distance slightly less than the width of the sideseamed carton deposited therebetween so that the carton will be forcedinto a slightly open position. The receiving end of each pocket 208 isshaped to accept the full width of the leading end of the carton andthen tapers inwardly for a short distance to a point where the spacingbetween the grooves is less than the full width of the carton. Theleading end of the carton comes to rest against an adjustable stop 266carried by each bracket 262.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, the shaft 258 which carries the spider 210 isarranged to be indexed 90 degrees each cycle of operation throughconnections including a Geneva drive mechanism, indicated generally at268, and which includes a driving member 270 fast on a shaft 272 and adriven member 274 fast on a shaft 276. The shaft 272 is connected by achain and sprocket drive 278 to the main drive shaft 122. The drivenmember 274 of the Geneva is fast on the shaft 276 and the latter isconnected by a train of gears 282 to the spider shaft 258.

The purpose of the indexing mechanism is to bring successive cartonsfrom a horizontal to a vertical or upright position in order toaccommodate the bottom sealing machine which is arranged to receive thecartons in an upright position. After the carton has been indexed to avertical position in its partly open condition, provision is made forremoving or stripping the carton from its pocket; opening the carton toits squared up condition during such removal; and then folding thecarton in a reverse direction as it leaves its pocket to be receivedbetween the driven rolls 38, 40 which serve to transfer the carton tothe bottom sealing machine and also serve to crease the remaining scorelines 288, 290, resulting in a carton that has been prebroken on allfour vertical score lines and properly glued to produce the desiredsquared up shape in the completed carton As herein shown, a pair ofspaced carton stripping or removing arms 292 are mounted on a shaft 294and are adjustably secured to an arm 295 fast on the vertical rockershaft 294 joumaled in a bracket 296. The shaft 294 is arranged to berocked in timed relation to the movement of the pockets through camoperated linkage including an arm 298 fast on the lower end of therocket shaft 294 and a link 300 connecting the arm 298 to a cam lever302. The cam lever 302 is pivotally mounted at 304 in a bracket 306 andis provided with a cam roll 308 cooperating with a closed cam 310 faston the cam shaft 122.

Referring now to FIGS. 20 to 24, FIG. 20 shows a carton 12 supportedalong its folded score lines 178, between spaced V-groove elements 260,261 with the carton partially open. The stripping arms 292 are shown intheir retracted position in FIG. 20, and a stationary angle plate 312 isshown positioned intermediate the V-groove elements. The arms 292 aredisposed above and belowthe V-groove elements, and in operation theadjacent extended edges of the carton are en gaged by grooved portions314 formed in rounded members 316 carried by the arms 292, the oppositeedge of the carton remaining in its V-groove element 260. Continuedmovement of the arms 292 .as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 opens the cartonto a squared up position, the stationary angle plate 312 serving tosupport one side wall 291 of the carton at this time with the roundedmembers 316 bearing against an end wall 293 and with the opposite endwall 29 still in engagement with its V-groove element 261. Furthermovement of the arms 292 effects folding of the carton along thepreviously unbent score lines 288, 290 by pressure of the roundedmembers against the trailing end wall 293 while the carton is supportedbetween the angle plate 312 and the V-groove element 261. As shown inFIGS. 23 and 24, the leading end of the carton now becomes free of theV-groove element 261 and the V-grooves 318 formed in the blocks 320carried by the arms 292 become operative by engaging the newly foldedtrailing edge defined by the score line 288 and advancing the cartonbetween guide rails 322, 324 and between driven rolls 38, 40 which forma part of the bottom sealing machine and by which the carton isdelivered to the machine to be squared up and elevated onto a mandrelfor supporting the carton during closing and sealing the bottom flaps ofthe carton. The driven rolls 38, 40 also serve to crease the newlyfolded edges defined by the score lines 288, 290 to break the cartonalong the score lines as described. A guide roll 36 is provided adjacentthe rail 322 on one side of the carton, and a guide plate 332 movableinto and out of operative engagement with the other side of the cartonwhereby to prevent opening of the carton during its transfer to thecreasing and advancing rolls 38, 40. It will be understood that inpractice successive cartons are advanced to the bottom sealing machineat the rate of about 100 cartons a minute. As shown in FIG. 18, theguide plate 332 is carried by a curved arm 334 fast on a shaft 366journaled in a bracket 338. A second arm 340 fast on the shaft 336 isconnected by a link 342 to one arm 344 of a cam lever pivotally mountedon a stud 346 carried by a bracket 348 attached to the machine frame.The second arm 350 of the cam lever is provided with a cam roll 352cooperating with a cam 354 fast on the cam shaft 122.

Referring again to FIGS. 9 and 10, provision is made for latching thecam lever 64 in an upraised position to maintain the stack 14 in anelevated position when it is desired to discontinue feeding of thecarton blanks. This may be done by a manual control or by an automaticcontrol of any usual or preferred construction. In either event, anormally closed solenoid valve 356, see FIG. 9, which connects a sourceof air from a pipe 357 to an air cylinder 358 is actuated to open thevalve 356 upon closing of the circuit 359. Opening of the valve effectsextension of the stem 360 which engages one arm 362 of a bell crankpivotally mounted on a stud 364 carried by a bracket 366. The arm 363 isspring urged in a clockwise direction and the second arm 368 of the bellcrank is connected to one arm 370 of the latch 371 by a rod 372 fixed inthe arm 370 and slidingly mounted in the arm 368. The rod 372 isprovided with a nut 373 to limit the sliding movement and to effectpositive disengagement of the latch. A compression spring 374 coiledabout the rod 372 is arranged to rock the latch in a counterclockwisedirection on the stud 364 to present the latch 371 in the path of anextension 376 of the cam lever 64. This type of control is of advantagewhen it is desired to automatically discontinue the feed of the cartonsin the event that a jam occurs in the side seaming device such as tocause elevation of the folding elements wherein a microswitch 378 may beplaced to close the circuit 359 to the solenoid valve 356 in such event,or a manually operated switch may be provided in the circuit. Anotherform of control for discontinuing the feed of carton blanks, asillustrated in FIG. 9, may comprise a photoelectric scanning unitindicated at 380 which is arranged to detect an oversupply of completedcartons at a forward point in the packaging line, and to actuate thesolenoid valve 356 whereby to effect latching of the cam lever 64.

From the above description it will be seen that the present apparatus iscapable of producing flat tubular or side seamed cartons from prescoredcarton blanks in a rapid, efficient and economical manner. It will alsobe observed that the present apparatus provides novel carton feedingmechanism, and novel mechanism for transferring the cartons directlyinto the bottom sealing machine whereby to provide a continuous cartonproducing process lending itself to more accurate and trouble-freehandling of the cartons as distinguished from the use of previouslyprepared side seamed cartons. While the apparatus illustrated anddescribed is particularly adapted for feeding cartons directly into abottom sealing machine, it will be apparent that the side seamed cartoncould be stacked and stored for future use, in which case the rate ofproduction could be substantially increased.

While the blanks herein illustrated and described comprise unlinedblanks, it will be understood that a lining material may be affixed tothe prescored blanks to produce lined cartons.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been hereinillustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention maybe embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed 1. In apparatus ofthe character described, in combination, with a conveyor having ahorizontal run and curved end runs, one of which leads into thereceiving end of the conveyor, means associated with the horizontal runof the conveyor for producing flat tubular cartons from prescored cartonblanks, and blank feeding means comprising means for supporting a stackof carton blanks in a rearwardly inclined position such that the lowerend of the stack is inclined upwardly toward the receiving end of theconveyor in a plane tangent to said curved run at the receiving end,means movable in said inclined plane in frictional engagement with thesuccessive lowermost blanks for initiating movement of the blanks one ata time from the lower end of the stack upwardly in said plane, means forgripping the leading ends of the blanks as they are advanced thereto forcompletely withdrawing the blanks from the magazine and moving themupwardly in said plane to a position such that the ends of the blanksproject upwardly beyond the plane of the conveyor, and upper and lowertransfer rolls tangent to each other and to the plane of the horizontalrun of the conveyor at the place of tangency of the curved run with thehorizontal run, said upper transfer roll containing a cavity forreceiving the projecting ends of the blanks.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper transfer roll has asubstantially radial edge at the rear side of the cavity thereincooperative with the lower transfer roll to grip the upwardly projectingend portions of the blanks rearwardly of their leading edges.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there are longitudinallyspaced cleatson the horizontal run of the conveyor for engagement withthe trailing ends of the blanks, and wherein deposit of the blanks onthe horizontal run of the conveyor are so timed that the trailing endsof the blanks are deposited on the horizontal run ahead of the cleats.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor comprises spacedparallel chains wherein sprockets rotatable about predetermined axessupport the curved end runs of the chains, wherein there are pairs ofupper and lower transfer rolls and wherein the lower transfer rolls arerotatable about the axis of the sprockets at the receiving end of theconveyor and correspond substantially in radius to the radius ofcurvature of the curved ends of the conveyor chains at said end.

1. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, with aconveyor having a horizontal run and curved end runs, one of which leadsinto the receiving end of the conveyor, means associated with thehorizontal run of the conveyor for producing flat tubular cartons fromprescored carton blanks, and blank feeding means comprising means forsupporting a stack of carton blanks in a rearwardly inclined positionsuch that the lower end of the stack is inclined upwardly toward thereceiving end of the conveyor in a plane tangent to said curved run atthe receiving end, means movable in said inclined plane in frictionalengagement with the successive lowermost blanks for initiating movementof the blanks one at a time from the lower end of the stack upwardly insaid plane, means for gripping the leading ends of the blanks as theyare advanced thereto for completely withdrawing the blanks from themagazine and moving them upwardly in said plane to a position such thatthe ends of the blanks project upwardly beyond the plane of theconveyor, and upper and lower transfer rolls tangent to each other andto the plane of the horizontal run of the conveyor at the place oftangency of the curved run with the horizontal run, said upper transferroll containing a cavity for receiving the projecting ends of theblanks.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the upper transferroll has a substantially radial edge at the rear side of the cavitytherein cooperative with the lower transfer roll to grip the upwardlyprojecting end portions of the blanks rearwardly of their leading edges.3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there are longitudinallyspaced cleats on the horizontal run of the conveyor for engagement withthe trailing ends of the blanks, and wherein deposit of the blanks onthe horizontal run of the conveyor are so timed that the trailing endsof the blanks are deposited on the horizontal run ahead of the cleats.4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor comprises spacedparallel chains wherein sprockets rotatable about predetermined axessupport the curved end runs of the chains, wherein there are pairs ofupper and lower transfer rolls and wherein the lower transfer rolls arerotatable about the axis of the sprockets at the receiving end of theconveyor and correspond substantially in radius to the radius ofcurvature of the curved ends of the conveyor chains at said end.